First Record of the Northern Indian Ocean Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) in Palestinian Waters

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‫بسم هللا الرحمن الرحيم‬

ISSN 0178-6288 https://palestine.academia.edu/NormanKhalaf https://issuu.com/dr-norman-ali-khalaf/docs

================================ ‫ النشرة الفلسطينية لعلم األحياء‬: ‫الغزال‬ Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin Gazelle : Das Palästinensische Biologische Bulletin

================================ Monthly Bulletin – Volume 39 – Number 202 - October 2021 Published by Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Khalaf Department for Environmental Research and Media, National Research Center, University of Palestine, Gaza, State of Palestine

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First Record of the Northern Indian Ocean Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus indica Blyth, 1859) in Palestinian Waters, Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea By: Sharif Prof.Dr.Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher Mohammad Ahmad Ahmad Mostafa Abdallah Mohammad Khalaf-Prinz Sakerfalke von Jaffa

‫التسجيل األول ل ُحوت أزرق شمالي ال ُمحيط الهندي في المياه‬ ‫ البحر األحمر‬، ‫الفلسطينية على خليج العقبة‬

ُ ‫ ر‬: ‫بقلم‬ ‫عل طاهر ُمحمد أحمد‬ ‫بسام‬ ‫عل‬ )‫عمان‬ ‫(ن‬ ‫ نورمان‬.‫ د‬.‫الشيف أ‬ ‫ي‬ ‫ي‬ ‫ى‬ ‫ى‬ ‫العيري‬ ‫صطف عبدهللا ُمحمد خلف اليافاوي‬ ‫أحمد ُم‬

A circa 20 meters Northern Indian Ocean Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus indica) was spotted off Umm Al-Rashrash (Eilat), Southern Occupied Palestine, Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea on 29.5.2018. Photo credit Omri Omessi/Israel Nature and Parks Authority. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/blue-whale-makes-unprecedented-visit-off-eilat-s-redsea-coast-1.6134521

Abstract A circa 20 meters Northern Indian Ocean Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus indica Blyth, 1859) was spotted off Umm Al-Rashrash (Eilat), Southern Occupied Palestine, Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 202 – October 2021

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Gulf of Aqaba, Northern Red Sea in May 2018, while hunting for food, only 300 meters from the beach, before continuing south to Egypt. This is the first ever documented blue whale visit off Palestinian waters and the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea.

‫ُملخص‬

‫ جنوب‬، )‫ قبالة أم الرشراش (إيالت‬، ‫مترا‬ ً 20 ‫تم رصد حوت أزرق شمالي ال ُمحيط الهندي بطول حوالي‬ ‫ على بعد‬، ‫ أثناء بحثها عن الغذاء‬، 2018 ‫ شمال البحر األحمر في مايو‬، ‫فلسطين ال ُمحتلة على خليج العقبة‬ ‫ وهذا هو التسجيل ال ُموثق األول‬. ‫ قبل أن ت ُكمل مسيرها ُجنوبا ً بإتجاه مصر‬، ‫ متر فقط من الشاطئ‬300 .‫للحوت األزرق قبالة السواحل الفلسطينية وخليج العقبة والبحر األحمر‬

A circa 20 meters Northern Indian Ocean Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus indica) was spotted off Umm Al-Rashrash (Eilat), Southern Occupied Palestine, Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea on 29.5.2018.

Photo: Marcos Schönholz. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L5274780,00.html

A circa 20 meters Northern Indian Ocean Blue Whale or Great Indian Rorqual (Balaenoptera musculus indica Blyth, 1859) was spotted off Umm Al-Rashrash (Eilat), Southern Occupied Palestine, Gulf of Aqaba, Northern Red Sea on Tuesday 29 May 2018, while hunting for food, only 300 meters from the beach, before continuing south to Egypt. This is the first ever documented blue whale visit off Palestinian waters and the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea. Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 202 – October 2021

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Erez Erlichman (30.05.2018) wrote in Y Net News: ”A blue whale, considered the largest of all whale species, was spotted in a first ever documented visit in the Gulf of Aqaba (Gulf of Eilat) and the Red Sea Tuesday 29.05.2018, Israeli marine researchers reported. Whales of this kind can reach up to 33 meters and weigh up to 130 tons. Up until 1965, hundreds of thousands of the species' members were hunted commercially, until a worldwide ban prevented their extinction.

Today, according to International Union for Conservation of Nature data, less than 12,000 of the endangered aquatic mammals exist in the wild.

Israel's Nature and Parks Authority, in conjunction with researchers from the Israel Marine Mammal Research & Assistance Center (IMMRAC) and marine mammal researchers from abroad reviewed the different media documenting the whale and initially presumed it was a humpback whale or a Bryde's whale, previously spotted in the Red Sea. The latest estimate, however, said it was a blue whale 15 or 20 meters long” (Erlichman, 2018).

"It was seen by a fisherman around 11:45 a.m., and he rushed to report on it. At first, they thought it was a large-finned whale that had already been seen in our region," Oz Goffman, the director of the Israel Marine Mammal Research and Assistance Center explained. Later it was also spotted from other boats. It was also seen under the water, where to the surprise of the experts, it was identified as a blue whale, on its first everknown visit to the area (Rinat and Ben Zikri, 2018).

‘This is the furthest north that it has ever reached," Goffman said. "In the past, it has been seen near the entrance to the Red Sea" (Rinat and Ben Zikri, 2018).

Researchers have collected a list of seven species of whale, including the killer whale, which has been sighted in the Red Sea, the northern portion of which is the Gulf of Aqaba. Now the list will have to be revised. "It looked in good condition," Goffman said. "We hope that it safely returns to where it came from" (Rinat and Ben Zikri, 2018).

Erez Erlichman (30.05.2018) writes: “Dafna Feingold, who coordinates aquatic mammal data for the IMMRAC, noted that, "This is the first piece of evidence of the existence of a new species in the Red Sea. It's the first time unequivocal photographic proof of a blue whale in the Gulf of Suez and the Red Sea came to light".

Erlichman (2018) continues: “Feingold said the specimen seems to have not reached its full size yet, and that its arrival in Palestine did not necessarily mean it was in poor health condition. She added that while it was possible a blue whale may have previously visited Palestine's shores, this was the first time one was actually documented.

"The reason they aren't often seen in our region is that they don't have enough food (here), and I imagine it will be making its way to the southern Red Sea before long," she explained”.

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A circa 20 meters Northern Indian Ocean Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus indica) was spotted off Umm Al-Rashrash (Eilat), Southern Occupied Palestine, Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea on 29.5.2018.

Photo: Marcos Schönholz. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L5274780,00.html

Dr. Assaf Zvuloni, head biologist of the national marine reserve in Eilat, added that, "Palestine and the gulf of Aqaba were a long way away from its area of distribution.

The size of the specimen was observed to be at least 20 meters, based on measurements comparing it to IMMRAC's pier." The biologist also added that the whale may actually be larger when taking into account parts of its body that were not visible under the water (Erlichman, 2018).

"This is a highly exciting sighting. Whales sometimes migrate great distances," he said.

"On occasion, certain specimens increase their migrations range. This wasn't the first time whales have been sighted in the Gulf of Aqaba, but never one of this size" (Erlichman, 2018).

Erlichman (2018) continues: ”Omri Omessi, a marine inspector for the Nature and Parks Authority's fishery supervision division, recounted the sighting was made when he embarked on a routine tour of the bay.

"We received reports of a large whale shark in the late morning, followed by reports of a whale. Mostly initial reports cite large animals, and then the closer you get, you usually discover it's a smaller animal. In this instance, we were surprised to find a very Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 202 – October 2021

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large marine mammal," he recalled.

At first, Omasi said he maintained a distance of about a hundred meters from the whale so as not to disturb it on its path. "It was making long, uniform strokes, from north to south, sometimes changing direction or depth," he said.

"It was hard to assume whether any other specimens were present in the area. It's moving to see such an immense whale in the world. It's hard to gauge its length, because you only see parts of it when it goes up to the water's surface to breathe," the inspector added.

"When we got additional reports of the whale on comm. networks, boats arrived and tried getting close—a little too close. Even in encounters with such special and rare animals, it's important to allow nature to take its course uninterrupted," he noted” (Erlichman, 2018).

Erlichman (2018) continues: ”Yoav Lindman, a doctoral candidate from the InterUniversity Institute for Marine Sciences in Eilat, set sail with a team from the institute to try and locate the whale.

"Reports come in about rare animals in the Gulf of Eilat, but this is a very rare instance.

There have been three sightings of humpback whales in Eilat thus far, with no other whales sighted," he said.

"It popped up to breathe in a different location each time," he continued. "When you see that it's twice as big as a seven meter long boat, that's incredibly pleasing. The boat disturbed him, however, so we tried to keep to a safe distance."

"I watched whales abroad, but this feels infinitely lucky to see one in Palestine. There aren't immense amounts of plankton for it to eat, and we saw him continuing south until it left to search for food elsewhere." he concluded” (Erlichman, 2018).

Maya Zilber, who oversees the dolphins in Eilat's Dolphin Reef, shared that when reports of the whale started pouring in; a local team went out to look for it. "It was the first time I've ever seen a blue whale, and we kept our distance. It was a very slow moving whale," she said (Erlichman, 2018).

Dafna Feingold added that when examining the photographs it was also apparent it was a very slim whale. "Usually a layer of fat and muscle exists around the spine.

Photos, however, showed the spine protruding with a concaving towards the inside of the body on both ends. There wasn't any fatty mass you'd expect to see," she noted (Erlichman, 2018).

Members of the Nature and Parks Authority accompanied the whale as it progressed outside of Palestine's borders, and bid it farewell as it continued its travels towards Egypt (Erlichman, 2018).

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A circa 20 meters Northern Indian Ocean Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus indica) was spotted off Umm Al-Rashrash (Eilat), Southern Occupied Palestine, Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea on 29.5.2018.

Photo: Marcos Schönholz. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L5274780,00.html

Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus Linnaeus, 1758) The Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus Linnaeus, 1758) is a marine mammal belonging to the baleen whales (Mysticeti). At 30 metres (98 feet) in length and 170 tonnes (190 short tons) or more in weight, it is the largest existing animal and the heaviest that ever existed (Wikipedia; Khalaf, August 2015, November 2018).

Long and slender, the blue whale's body can be various shades of bluish-grey dorsally and somewhat lighter underneath. There are five distinct subspecies: Balaenoptera musculus musculus Linnaeus, 1758 of the North Atlantic and North Pacific, Balaenoptera musculus intermedia Burmeister, 1871 of the Antarctic Zone and Southern Ocean, Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda Ichihara, 1966 (also known as the Pygmy Blue Whale) found in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific Ocean, Balaenoptera musculus indica Blyth, 1859, found in the Northern Indian Ocean, and the Chilean subspecies, B. m. un-named subsp., found in the southeastern Pacific Ocean. As with other baleen whales, its diet consists almost exclusively of small crustaceans known as krill (Wikipedia; Khalaf, August 2015, November 2018).

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Blue whales were abundant in nearly all the oceans on Earth until the beginning of the twentieth century. For over a century, they were hunted almost to extinction by whalers until protected by the international community in 1966. A 2002 report estimated there were 5,000 to 12,000 blue whales worldwide, located in at least five groups. More recent research into the Pygmy subspecies suggests this may be an underestimate. Before whaling, the largest population was in the Antarctic, numbering approximately 239,000 (range 202,000 to 311,000). There remain only much smaller (around 2,000) concentrations in each of the eastern North Pacific, Antarctic, and Indian Ocean groups.

There are two more groups in the North Atlantic, and at least two in the Southern Hemisphere (Wikipedia; Khalaf, August 2015, November 2018).

Taxonomy Blue whales are rorquals (family Balaenopteridae), a family that includes the Humpback Whale, the Fin Whale, Bryde's Whale, the Sei Whale, and the Minke Whale.

The family Balaenopteridae is believed to have diverged from the other families of the suborder Mysticeti as long ago as the middle Oligocene (28 Ma ago). It is not known when the members of those families diverged from each other (Wikipedia; Khalaf, August 2015, November 2018).

The Blue Whale is usually classified as one of eight species in the genus Balaenoptera; one authority places it in a separate monotypic genus, Sibbaldus, but this is not accepted elsewhere. DNA sequencing analysis indicates that the Blue Whale is phylogenetically closer to the Sei Whale (Balaenoptera borealis) and Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera brydei) than to other Balaenoptera species, and closer to the Humpback Whale (Megaptera) and the Gray Whale (Eschrichtius) than to the Minke Whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata and Balaenoptera bonaerensis). If further research confirms these relationships, it will be necessary to reclassify the rorquals (Wikipedia; Khalaf, August 2015, November 2018).

There have been at least 11 documented cases of blue/fin hybrid adults in the wild.

Arnason and Gullberg (1993) describe the genetic distance between a blue whale and a fin whale as about the same as that between a human and a gorilla. Researchers working off Fiji believe they photographed a hybrid humpback/blue whale (Wikipedia; Khalaf, August 2015, November 2018).

The first published description of the blue whale comes from Robert Sibbald's “Phalainologia Nova” (1694). In September 1692, Sibbald found a blue whale that had stranded in the Firth of Forth—a male 24 m (78 feet)-long—which had "black, horny plates" and "two large apertures approaching a pyramid in shape" (Wikipedia; Khalaf, August 2015, November 2018).

The specific name musculus is Latin and could mean "muscle", but it can also be interpreted as "little mouse". Carl Linnaeus, who named the species in his seminal “Systema Naturae” of 1758, would have known this and may have intended the ironic double meaning. Herman Melville called this species sulphur-bottom in his novel “Moby-Dick” due to an orange-brown or yellow tinge on the underparts from Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 202 – October 2021

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diatomfilms on the skin. Other common names for the Blue Whale have included Sibbald's Rorqual (after Sibbald, who first described the species), the Great Blue Whale and the Great Northern Rorqual. These names have now fallen into disuse. The first known usage of the term Blue Whale was in Melville's “Moby-Dick”, which only mentions it in passing and does not specifically attribute it to the species in question.

The name was really derived from the Norwegian Blåhval, coined by Svend Foyn shortly after he had perfected the harpoon gun; the Norwegian scientist G. O. Sars adopted it as the Norwegian common name in 1874 (Wikipedia; Khalaf, August 2015, November 2018).

Authorities classify the species into five subspecies: B. m. musculus, the Northern Blue Whale consisting of the North Atlantic and North Pacific populations, B. m. intermedia, the Southern Blue Whale of the Southern Ocean, B. m. brevicauda, the Pygmy Blue Whale found in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific, B. m. indica, the Great Indian Rorqual, found in the Northern Indian Ocean, and the Chilean subspecies, B. m. unnamed subsp., found in the southeastern Pacific Ocean (Wikipedia; Khalaf, August 2015, November 2018).

Description and Behaviour The Blue Whale has a long tapering body that appears stretched in comparison with the stockier build of other whales. The head is flat, U-shaped and has a prominent ridge running from the blowhole to the top of the upper lip. The front part of the mouth is thick with baleen plates; around 300 plates (each around one metre (3.2 feet) long) hang from the upper jaw, running 0.5 m (1.6 feet) back into the mouth. Between 70 and 118 grooves (called ventral pleats) run along the throat parallel to the body length. These pleats assist with evacuating water from the mouth after lunge feeding (Wikipedia; Khalaf, August 2015, November 2018).

The dorsal fin is small, ranging in height from 8–70 centimeters (3.1–27.6 in) (usually 20–40 centimeters (7.9–15.7 in)) and averaging about 28 centimetres (11 in). It is visible only briefly during the dive sequence. Located around three-quarters of the way along the length of the body, it varies in shape from one individual to another; some only have a barely perceptible lump, but others may have prominent and falcate (sickleshaped) dorsals. When surfacing to breathe, the Blue Whale raises its shoulder and blowhole out of the water to a greater extent than other large whales, such as the Fin or Sei Whales. Observers can use this trait to differentiate between species at sea. Some Blue Whales in the North Atlantic and North Pacific raise their tail fluke when diving.

When breathing, the whale emits a spectacular vertical single-column spout up to 12 metres (39 feet), typically 9 metres (30 feet). Its lung capacity is 5,000 litres (1320 U.S. gallons). Blue Whales have twin blowholes shielded by a large splashguard (Wikipedia; Khalaf, August 2015, November 2018).

The flippers are 3–4 metres (9.8–13.1 feet) long. The upper sides are grey with a thin white border; the lower sides are white. The head and tail fluke are generally uniformly grey. The whale's upper parts, and sometimes the flippers, are usually mottled. The Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 202 – October 2021

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degree of mottling varies substantially from individual to individual. Some may have a uniform slate-grey color, but others demonstrate a considerable variation of dark blues, greys and blacks, all tightly mottled (Wikipedia; Khalaf, August 2015, November 2018).

Blue Whales can reach speeds of 50 kilometres per hour (31 mph) over short bursts, usually when interacting with other whales, but 20 kilometres per hour (12 mph) is a more typical traveling speed. When feeding, they slow down to 5 kilometres per hour (3.1 mph) (Wikipedia; Khalaf, August 2015, November 2018).

Blue Whales most commonly live alone or with one other individual. It is not known how long traveling pairs stay together. In locations where there is a high concentration of food, as many as 50 blue whales have been seen scattered over a small area. They do not form the large, close-knit groups seen in other baleen species (Wikipedia; Khalaf, August 2015, November 2018).

A circa 20 meters Northern Indian Ocean Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus indica) was spotted off Umm Al-Rashrash (Eilat), Southern Occupied Palestine, Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea on 29.5.2018.

Photo: Marcos Schönholz. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L5274780,00.html

Geographic Range The five blue whale subspecies recognized by the Society for Marine Mammalogy’s Committee on Taxonomy are distributed in all major ocean basins, except the Bering Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 202 – October 2021

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Sea and the Arctic Ocean, although blue whales have been sighted near the ice edge in the North Atlantic (Wikipedia).

The distributions of the five subspecies of blue whale are outlined below. Some of these blue whale subspecies have been further divided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service, resulting in at least nine recognized management units, based largely on unique song types (Wikipedia).

1. The Northern subspecies, B. m. musculus is found in the North Pacific and North Atlantic, although given the geographic separation and genetic differences, populations in these two regions are unlikely to be closely linked (Wikipedia).

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In the eastern North Pacific, B. m. musculus ranges from the Gulf of Alaska, along the U.S. West Coast and Mexico and south to the Costa Rica Dome in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (Wikipedia).

In the western and central North Pacific, B. m. musculus ranges from the Kamchatka Peninsula, to the Gulf of Alaska, and across western and central Pacific, including Japan and Hawaii (Wikipedia).

In the North Atlantic, B. m. musculus ranges from Davis Strait to the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Nova Scotia. This subspecies has also been photographed off Iceland and the Azores. Whether there is one North Atlantic population or two (eastern and western) remains an open question (Wikipedia).

2. The Antarctic subspecies, B. m. intermedia is found mostly south of the Antarctic Convergence Zone in austral summer, but spread widely from the Southern ocean to the equator in all oceans during the austral winter (Wikipedia).

3. The pygmy subspecies, B. m. brevicauda, is found in the waters off Indonesia, Australia, Madagascar, and New Zealand (Wikipedia).

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Off Australia, pygmy blue whales are distributed from Indonesia and western Australia to the sub-Antarctic waters of the southern Indian Ocean (Wikipedia).

Off Madagascar, pygmy blue whales are distributed from the Seychelles and Amirante Islands to Madagascar and Reunion Island, Crozet and Prince Edward Islands, sub-Antarctic waters between Africa and Australia, south to the Antarctic continental shelf (Wikipedia).

Off New Zealand, pygmy blue whales are distributed in New Zealand in the South Taranaki Bight between the North and South Islands, and along the east coast of North Island, in the Tasman Sea and the Lau Basin near Tonga, and as far south as 52°S (Wikipedia).

4. The Northern Indian Ocean subspecies, B. m. indica is found from Somalia to southern Arabia to the southwest coast of India, and off the coasts of Sri Lanka and the Maldives, with an apparent breeding season six months out of phase from pygmy blue whales. However, this putative subspecies is the subject of an unresolved debate, with many suggesting they are pygmy blue whales, given that their song type is heard Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 202 – October 2021

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considerably south of the equator, that the description in Blyth is insufficient to distinguish them from pygmy blue whales, that they are of similar size to pygmy blue whales, and that Soviet whalers did not distinguish between B. m. indica and B. m. brevicauda despite catching thousands of each. Northern Indian Ocean blue whales may be separated into one or more populations as songs are collected from more areas in this region (Wikipedia).

5. The Chilean subspecies, B. m. un-named subsp., is found in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, especially the Chiloé-Corcovado region, and lower latitude areas including Peru, the Galapagos Islands and the southern portions of the Eastern Tropical Pacific (Wikipedia).

A circa 20 meters Northern Indian Ocean Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus indica) was spotted off Umm Al-Rashrash (Eilat), Southern Occupied Palestine, Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea on 29.5.2018. Photo: Kfir Shimoni. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5274780,00.html

The Whales and Dolphins in Palestinian Waters In November 2008, I wrote an article entitled: “Cetacea Palaestina: The Whales and Dolphins in Palestinian Waters. Cetacean Species Guide for Palestine”.

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I wrote: Cetacea Palaestina: Applies to species, individuals of which have either been sighted offshore or have beached in an apparently good nutritional status (Khalaf, November 2008, December 2019, August 2021, September 2021).

Cetaceans of the Mediterranean continental shelf (presented in descending order of body size): 1. Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus).

2. Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) (was added in my article: Khalaf, December 2019).

3. Gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) (was added in my article: Khalaf, January 2012).

4. Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata).

5. Killer whale (Orcinus orca) (was added in my article: Khalaf, August 2021).

6. Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris).

7. False killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens).

8. Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus).

9. Common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus).

10. Rough-toothed dolphin (Steno bredanensis).

11. Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis).

12. Short-beaked Common dolphin (Delphinus delphis).

13. Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) (Khalaf, November 2008, December 2019, August 2021, September 2021).

Cetaceans of the Gulf of Aqaba / Eilat (absent from the Mediterranean) (presented in descending order of body size): 14. Indian Ocean blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus indica) (was added here in my article: Khalaf, October 2021).

15. Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) (was added here in my article: Khalaf, October 2021).

16. Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni) (was added here in my article: Khalaf, October 2021).

17. Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus).

18. Arabian Common Dolphin (Delphinus tropicalis).

19. Pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata).

20. Long-snouted spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) (Khalaf, November 2008, December 2019, August 2021, September 2021).

References and Internet Websites Abd Rabou, Abdel Fattah (26.04.2020). Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) stranding in Khan Yunis, south Gaza. ‫جنوح عينة نافقة من الدولفين قاروري األنف على‬ ‫ شاطئ البحر في خانيونس جنوب غزة‬. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3102419263113311&set=a.21268784541981 5&type=3&theater Abdullah, Afkar (28.11.2017). 27-metre dead whale washes ashore on Khor Fakkan Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 202 – October 2021

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beach. Khaleej Times. https://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/sharjah/27-metre-deadwhale-washes-ashore-on-khor-fakkan-beachAlgemeiner (28.02.2020). For First Time, Killer Whale Spotted of Israel’s Mediterranean Coast. https://www.algemeiner.com/2020/02/28/for-first-timekiller-whale-spotted-of-israels-mediterranean-coast/ Ali, Aghaddir (27.11.2017). 16m-long whale carcass found off Khor Fakkan. Gulf News. http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/emergencies/16m-long-whale-carcass-found-offkhor-fakkan-1.2131406 Ali, Aghaddir (27.11.2017). 16m-long whale carcass found off Khor Fakkan coast. Gulf News. http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/environment/16-metre-long-whale-carcassfound-off-khor-fakkan-coast-1.2131588 Al-Robaae, K. (1974). Tursiops aduncus Bottlenosed dolphin: a new record for Arab Gulf; with notes on Cetacea of the region. Bull. Basrah Nat. Hist. Mus. 1(1): 7-16.

American Cetacean Society Fact Sheet – Bottlenose Dolphin. Archived 2008-07-25 at the Wayback Machine.

Animal Records. Smithsonian National Zoological Park. Retrieved 29 May 2007.

Arkive. Bryde’s Whale Balaenoptera edeni. http://www.arkive.org/brydeswhale/balaenoptera-edeni/

A circa 20 meters Northern Indian Ocean Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus indica) was spotted off Umm Al-Rashrash (Eilat), Southern Occupied Palestine, Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea on 29.5.2018. Photo: Marcos Schönholz. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L5274780,00.html Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 202 – October 2021

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Arnason, U. and A. Gullberg (1993). Comparison between the complete mtDNA sequences of the blue and fin whale, two species that can hybridize in nature. Journal of Molecular Ecology 37 (4): 312–322.

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by Robert Baldwin, 1995, ISBN 13: 9780952660507.

Baldwin R (1998). Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) of the Sultanate of Oman.

Document SC/50/CAWS21, Scientific Committee, International Whaling Commission.

Baldwin, Robert (2003). Whales and Dolphins of Arabia. Mazoon Printing Press, Muttrah, Sultanate of Oman. 111pp.

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Husson, A. M. & L. B. Holthuis (1974). Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus, 1758, the valid name for the Sperm Whale. Zoologische Mededelingen, Leiden, Vol. 48, No. 19, p. 205217. ISSN 0024-0672. https://www.narcis.nl/publication/RecordID/oai:naturalis.nl:318605 I24News (28.02.2020). In rare sighting, Killer Whale spotted off Israel’s northern shores. Israel Hayom. https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/1582893165 -in-rare-sighting-killerwhale-spotted-off-israel-s-northern-shores Ichihara, T. (1966). The pygmy blue whale B. m. brevicauda, a new subspecies from the Antarctic in: Whales, dolphins and porpoises. Page(s) 79–113.

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Jongbloed, Marijcke (2004). Whales and Dolphins in the Gulf. http://www.alshindagah.com/janfeb2004/whales.html Kawamura, A. (1980). A review of food of balaenopterid whales. Scientific Reports of the Whales Research Institute 32: 155–197.

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Number 18, Third Year, First Semester, Saturday 6.11.1982. Biological Society, Kuwait University, State of Kuwait. pp. 7. (in Arabic).

Khalaf, Norman Ali Bassam (1987). Blue Whales (Balaenoptera musculus) from the State of Kuwait, Arabian Gulf. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. RilchingenHanweiler, Federal Republic of Germany. Number 14, Fifth Year, Shawal 1407 AH, June 1987 AD. pp. 1-14.

Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam (1992). The Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) in the Zoologisches Forschungsinstitut und Museum Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Germany. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Bonn-Bad Godesberg, Federal Republic of Germany. Number 26, Tenth Year, January 1992. pp. 1-3.

Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam (1992). An Introduction to the Animal Life in Palestine. Gazelle. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Bonn-Bad Godesberg, Federal Republic of Germany. Number 30, Tenth Year, October 1992. pp. 1-7. (in Arabic).

Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam (1994). An Introduction to the Animal Life in Palestine. Shqae’q Al-Nouma’n (Anemone coronaria). A Quarterly Magazine Issued by the Program EAI (Education for Awareness and for Involvement). Environmental Education / Children for Nature Protection. In Cooperation with Dept. of General and Higher Education. P.L.O., Palestine. Number 4. Huzairan (June) 1994. pp. 16-21. (in Arabic).

Khalaf, Norman Ali Bassam (Gründer) (seit Juni 2001). Wale und Delphine Club Yahoo Group. https://de.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Wale_und_Delphine/info Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali (2004). Gazelle: Das Palästinensische Biologische Bulletin.

Eine Wissenschaftliche Reise in Palästina, Arabien und Europa zwischen 1983 – 2004 / Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. A Scientific Journey in Palestine, Arabia and Europe between 1983 – 2004. ISBN 3-00-014121-9. Erste Auflage, Juli 2004: 452 Seiten. Zweite erweiterte Auflage, August 2004: 460 Seiten. Publisher: Norman Ali Khalaf, Bonn-Bad Godesberg, Germany. http://dr-norman-ali-khalafbooks.webs.com/& eBook: https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/59405994/book-gazelle-thepalestinian-biological-bulletin-a-scientific-journey-in-palestine-arabia-and-europebetween-1983-2004-by-norman-ali-khalaf-von-jaffa-2004 Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali (2004). Die Wal Sonderausstellung "Delphinidae Delphionidae" und "Kleinwale in Nord- und Ostsee" im Museum Alexander Koenig in Bonn, Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. BonnGazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 202 – October 2021

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Bad Godesberg, Federal Republic of Germany. Number 35, Twenty-second Year, September 2004. pp. 1.

Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali (2004). Der Schweinswal (Phocoena phocoena) in der Nordund Ostsee ... The Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in the North Sea and Baltic Sea. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Bonn-Bad Godesberg, Federal Republic of Germany. Number 36, Twenty-second Year, October 2004. pp. 1-7.

Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali (2005). Thema des Tages (5. Januar 2005): In See gespülter Indopazifischer Buckeldelfin (Sousa chinensis) in Thailand nach Tagen gerettet. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Number 37, Twentythird Year, January 2005. pp. 1-3.

Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali (2005). The Story of Prophet Yunus (Jonah) and the Whale. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

Number 38, Twenty-third Year, February 2005. pp. 9-13.

Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali (2005). Jaffa (Yaffa): The History of an Old Palestinian Arab City on the Mediterranean Sea. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin.

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Number 39, Twenty-third Year, March 2005. pp. 7-8.

Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali (2005). The Andromeda Sea Monster of Jaffa. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Number 39, Twentythird Year, March 2005. pp. 8.

Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali (2005). Aquatica Arabica. An Aquatic Scientific Journey in Palestine, Arabia and Europe between 1980 - 2005. / Aquatica Arabica. Eine Aquatische Wissenschaftliche Reise in Palaestina, Arabien und Europa zwischen 1980 - 2005. ISBN 3-00-014835-3. Erste Auflage, August 2005: 376 Seiten. Publisher: Norman Ali Khalaf, Rilchingen-Hanweiler, Bundesrepublik Deutschland & Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://dr-norman-ali-khalaf-books.webs.com/aquaticaarabica.htm & eBook: https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/59407769/book-aquatica-arabica-anaquatic-scientific-journey-in-palestine-arabia-and-europe-between-1980-2005-bynorman-ali-khalaf-von-jaffa-2005 & eBook: https://joom.ag/nN6L Khalaf, Norman Ali (2005, 2006, 2007). Chapter 3: Geography, Flora and Fauna. Pages 32-39.in: Palestine: A Guide. By Mariam Shahin, Photography by George Azar. CoAuthor: Norman Ali Khalaf. Northampton, Massachusetts: Interlink Publishing Group, 2005, 2006, 2007. xi + 471 pages. Appendices to page 500. http://ipsnewsite.mysite4now.com/journals.aspx?id=7323&jid=1&href=fulltext Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali (2006). A Bryde’s Whale (Balaenoptera edeni) Stranding on Al Mamzar Beach, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Number 50. February 2006. pp. 1-5. https://de.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Quastenflosser/conversations/messages/ 22 Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2006). Mammalia Palaestina: The Mammals of Palestine / Die Säugetiere Palästinas. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Number 55, Twenty-fourth Year, July 2006, Jumada Al-Thania 1427. Pp. 1-46.

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

Khalaf-von Jaffa, Norman Ali (2006). Mammalia Arabica. Eine Zoologische Reise in Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 202 – October 2021

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Palästina, Arabien und Europa zwischen 1980-2006 / Mammalia Arabica. A Zoological Journey in Palestine, Arabia and Europe between 1980-2006. ISBN 3-00-017294-7. Erste Auflage (First Edition), Juli 2006, 484 pp. Publisher: Norman Ali Khalaf, RilchingenHanweiler, Deutschland & Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://dr-norman-alikhalaf-books.webs.com/mammaliaarabica.htm & eBook (Google Drive): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mjzf_I_b8wTX_BHd1RsuU4ykhJlIKW2/view?usp=sharing Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2007). Felidae Arabica. A Zoological Journey in Palestine, Arabia and Europe between 1980-2007 / Felidae Arabica. Eine Zoologische Reise in Palästina, Arabien und Europa zwischen 1980-2007.

ISBN 978-3-00-019568-6. Erste Auflage (First Edition), Juli (July) 2007, 300 pp. SelfPublisher: Norman Ali Khalaf, Rilchingen-Hanweiler, Deutschland & Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. (in Arabic, German and English). Doctoral Dissertation. Ashwood University, USA. Doctor of Science Degree in Zoology (Summa Cumm Laude) on 26.09.2007. http://dr-norman-ali-khalaf-books.webs.com/felidaearabica.htm & Doctoral Dissertation eBook : https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/59397999/doctorate-dissertationfelidae-arabica-by-norman-ali-bassam-khalaf-doctor-of-science-ashwood-universityusa-2007 Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (Gründer) (seit September 2007). Yahoo! Deutschland Group: Fauna Arabica. http://de.groups.yahoo.com/group/Fauna_Arabica/ Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2007). Haywanat Filistin (Fauna of Palestine). In: Wikipedia-Arabic, Al-Mawsu'a Al-Hurra (The Free Encyclopedia). Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Number 69, September 2007, Sha’ban 1428 AH. pp. 1-4. (Article in Arabic). http://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AD%D9%8A%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A7 %D8%AA_%D9%81%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B7%D9%8A%D9%86 Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2008). Cetacea Palaestina: The Whales and Dolphins in Palestinian Waters. Cetacean Species Guide for Palestine. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Number 83, November 2008, Thu Al-Qi’ada 1429 AH. pp. 1-14. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://cetaceapalaestina.webs.com/& https://de.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Wale_und_Delphine/conversations/mess ages/329 Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2009). Flora and Fauna in Palestine. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288.

Number 91, July 2009, Rajab 1430 AH. pp. 1-31. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://flora-fauna-palestine.webs.com/ Khalaf-von Jaffa, Dr. Norman Ali Bassam (2009). Fauna Palaestina – Part One. A Zoological Journey in Palestine, Arabia and Europe between 1983 – 2006 / Fauna Palaestina – Teil Eins. Eine Zoologische Reise in Palästina, Arabien und Europa zwischen 1983 – 2006. ISBN 978-9948-03-865-8. Erste Auflage/First Edition, September Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 202 – October 2021

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2009: 412 Seiten/Pages. Self Publisher: Dr. Norman Ali Bassam Khalaf-von Jaffa, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates & Rilchingen-Hanweiler, Bundesrepublik Deutschland. http://dr-norman-ali-khalaf-books.webs.com/faunapalaestinapart1.htm & eBook: https://www.yumpu.com/xx/document/view/59498633/fauna-palaestina-1-bookby-dr-norman-ali-khalaf-2009 Khalaf-von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2010). Fauna Emiratus - Part One. Zoological Studies in the United Arab Emirates between 2004 - 2009. / Fauna Emiratus – Teil Eins. Zoologische Studien in die Vereinigten Arabischen Emirate zwischen 2004 - 2009. ISBN 978-9948-15-462-4. Erste Auflage/First Edition, November 2010: 350 Seiten / Pages. Self Publisher: Dr. Norman Ali Bassam Khalaf-von Jaffa, Dubai and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates & Rilchingen-Hanweiler, Bundesrepublik Deutschland. http://dr-norman-ali-khalaf-books.webs.com/faunaemiratuspart1.htm & eBook: https://www.yumpu.com/xx/document/view/59546804/fauna-emiratuspart-1-zoological-studies-in-the-united-arab-emirates-between-2004-2009-by-drnorman-ali-bassam-khalaf-von-jaffa-2010 Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2012). Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus Lilljeborg, 1861) sighted off the Mediterranean Coast of Palestine.

Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. Number 100, January 2012. pp. 1-6. Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://de.groups.yahoo.com/group/Fauna_Palaestina/message/90 & http://de.groups.yahoo.com/group/Wale_und_Delphine/message/344 Khalaf-von Jaffa, Dr. Norman Ali Bassam (2012). Fauna Palaestina – Part Two. Zoological Studies in Palestine between 1983 – 2009/ Fauna Palaestina – Teil Zwei.

Zoologische Studien in Palästina zwischen 1983 – 2009. ISBN 978-9948-16-667-2. 1.

Auflage / First Edition : July 2012, Shaaban 1433 H.208 Seiten / Pages (Arabic Part 120 Pages and the English Part 88 Pages). Publisher: Dar Al Jundi Publishing House, Jerusalem, Palestine. http://dr-norman-ali-khalafbooks.webs.com/faunapalaestinapart2.htm & eBook: https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/59602956/fauna-palaestina-part-2book-by-dr-norman-ali-khalaf-von-jaffa-2012 Khalaf-von Jaffa, Dr. Norman Ali Bassam (2013). Fauna Palaestina – Part Three.

Zoological Studies in Palestine between 2005 – 2012/ Fauna Palaestina – Teil Drei.

Zoologische Studien in Palästina zwischen 2005 – 2012. ISBN 978-9950-383-35-7. Erste Auflage / First Edition : July 2013, Shaaban 1434 H.364 Seiten / Pages (English / German Part 350 Pages and the Arabic Part 14 Pages). Publisher: Dar Al Jundi Publishing House, Jerusalem, Palestine. http://dr-norman-ali-khalafbooks.webs.com/faunapalaestinapart3.htm Khalaf-von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Bassam (2014). Fauna Palaestina – Part Four.

Zoological Studies in Palestine between 1983 – 2014/ Fauna Palaestina – Teil Vier.

Zoologische Studien in Palästina zwischen 1983 – 2014. ISBN978-9950-383-77-7. Erste Auflage / First Edition : July 2014, Ramadan 1435 H. pp. 456 (English part 378 pages and Arabic part 78 pages). Publisher: Dar Al Jundi Publishing House, Al-Quds (Jerusalem), State of Palestine. http://fauna-palaestina-partGazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 202 – October 2021

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1.webs.com/faunapalaestina4.htm Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2014).

Dinasurat Al Quds (Dinosaurs of Jerusalem). Dialogue with Prof. Dr. Norman Khalafvon Jaffa. National Geographic Arabiya Magazine (October 2014, Pages 52--53). https://www.flickr.com/photos/50022881@N00/15412670595 Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2014). A Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) Stranding on Failaka Island, State of Kuwait. Gazelle - The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178-6288). Number 119. November 2014. pp. 1-13.

Dubai and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://animals-of-kuwait.webs.com/ Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2015). Plants and Animals unique to Palestine. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Number 125, May 2015. pp. 1-18. Dubai and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://flora-fauna-palestine-2.webs.com/ Khalaf-von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Bassam (2015). Fauna Palaestina – Part Five.

Zoological Studies in Palestine between 1983 – 2016/ Fauna Palaestina – Teil Fünf.

Zoologische Studien in Palästina zwischen 1983 – 2016. ISBN 978-9950-383-92-0. Erste Auflage / First Edition : July 2015, Ramadan 1436 H. 448 pp. (English Part 304 Pages and the Arabic Part 144 Pages). Publisher: Dar Al Jundi Publishing House, Al-Quds (Jerusalem), State of Palestine. http://fauna-palaestina-books.webs.com/ Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2015). The 24meters Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) Skeleton at the Educational Science Museum in Kuwait City, State of Kuwait. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 6288. Number 128, August 2015, pp. 1-18. Dubai and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://animals-of-kuwait.webs.com/blue-whale-skeleton Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2015). The Umm Al-Maradem Island Whale Skeleton at the Educational Science Museum in Kuwait City, State of Kuwait. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 6288. Number 130, October 2015, pp. 1-18. Dubai and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://animals-of-kuwait.webs.com/umm-al-maradem-whale Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2016). A Scientific Visit to Wadi El-Hitan (Whales Valley), Al-Fayyum, Al-Sahraa Al-Gharbiah (Western Desert), Egypt. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288).

Number 134, February 2016, pp. 1-44. Sharjah and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. http://cetacea.webs.com/wadi-el-hitan Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2016). Whale Bone Remains at the Diving Village, Heritage Village, Dubai, United Arab Emirates and a Note on the Whales and Dolphins in the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288). Number 141, September 2016, pp.

1-19. Sharjah and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. http://cetacea.webs.com/whale-bonesdubai Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher (2016).

Haywanat Falastin (Fauna of Palestine) ‫ حيوانات فلسطين‬. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Number 144, December 2016, pp. 1-18. Dubai and Sharjah, Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 202 – October 2021

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United Arab Emirates (In Arabic). http://animals-of-palestine-2.webs.com/fauna-ofpalestine-arabic Khalaf-Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher Mohammad Ahmad Mostafa (2017). Whale vertebra from a stranded Whale in 1965 on the beach of Qidfa Village, Emirate of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Number 153, September 2017, pp. 1-6. Dubai and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. http://cetacea.webs.com/whale-vertebrae-qidfa-uae Khalaf-von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam (September 2017). YouTube : Whale Skeletons at Muscat Natural History Museum, Oman. https://youtu.be/O_fSJdG0dfc Khalaf, Norman Ali (17.10.2017). First record of a mother Arabian Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae indica) with juvenile in the Sea of Dubai-Jumeirah. Photos taken from a video published by UAE Dolphin Project. Facebook. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10155685010874831&id=560519830&hc_ location=ufi Khalaf-Prinz Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher Mohammad Ahmad Mostafa (November 2017). First Sighting Record of the Arabian Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae indica Gervais, 1883) in the Sea of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Arabian Gulf. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Number 155, November 2017, pp. 16-50. Published by Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Khalaf Department for Environmental Research and Media, National Research Center, University of Palestine, Gaza, State of Palestine. http://marine-life-uae2.webs.com/arabian-humpback-whale Khalaf, Norman Ali (22.11.2017). Whale Vertebra at Fujairah Museum. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/dr.norman.ali.khalaf/media_set?set=a.10155793851074831 .1073742049.560519830&type=3&pnref=story Khalaf-Prinz Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher Mohammad Ahmad Mostafa (2018). Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus, 1758) Skeleton at the Natural History Museum in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Number 165, September 2018, pp.

1-31. Published by Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Khalaf Department for Environmental Research and Media, National Research Center, University of Palestine, Gaza, State of Palestine.http://cetacea.webs.com/ Khalaf-Prinz Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher Mohammad Ahmad Mostafa (2018). A Whale Vertebra at Fujairah Museum, Fujairah City, Emirate of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Number 166, October 2018, pp. 1-11. Published by Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Khalaf Department for Environmental Research and Media, National Research Center, University of Palestine, Gaza, State of Palestine. http://cetacea2.webs.com/whale-vertebra-fujairah Khalaf, Sharif Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher Mohammad Ahmad Ahmad Mostafa Abdallah Mohammad (Abu Nora) (2018). The Family of Sharif Hajji Taher Mohammad Ahmad Ahmad Mostafa Khalaf (Abu Othman). A Pictorial History Book of a Palestinian Family from Jaffa in the Twentieth Century. ISBN 978-9950-974-40-1. First Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 202 – October 2021

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Edition, October 2018, Safar 1440 Hijri. 120 pp. In Arabic. Publisher: Prof. Dr. Norman Khalaf Department for Environmental Research and media, National Research Center, University of Palestine, Gaza, State of Palestine. https://family-taherkhalaf.webs.com/ & eBook: https://www.yumpu.com/xx/document/view/62242473/book-family-taher-khalaf2018 Khalaf-Prinz Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher Mohammad Ahmad Mostafa (2018). A 27-meters dead Great Indian Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus indica Blyth, 1859) washes ashore at Khorfakkan Port, Khorfakkan, United Arab Emirates. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Number 167, November 2018, pp. 1-21. Published by Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Khalaf Department for Environmental Research and Media, National Research Center, University of Palestine, Gaza, State of Palestine. http://cetacea-2.webs.com/ Khalaf-Prinz Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher Mohammad Ahmad Mostafa (December 2018). Cetacean Skeletons at the Whale Hall in the Natural History Museum in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Number 168, December 2018, pp. 1-29. Published

by Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Khalaf Department for Environmental Research and Media, National Research Center, University of Palestine, Gaza, State of Palestine. http://cetacea-2.webs.com/cetacean-skeletons-muscat Khalaf-Prinz Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher Mohammad Ahmad Mostafa (July 2019). Cetacean Skeletons at the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle (National Museum of Natural History) in Paris, France. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Volume 37, Number 175, July 2019, pp.

1-31. Published by Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Khalaf Department for Environmental Research and Media, National Research Center, University of Palestine, Gaza, State of Palestine. https://cetacea-2.webs.com/cetacean-skeletons-paris Khalaf-Prinz Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Sharif Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher Mohammad Ahmad Ahmad Mostafa Abdallah Mohammad (December 2019). Whales from the Gaza Strip, Sea of Gaza, State of Palestine. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Volume 37, Number 180, December 2019, pp. 1-17. Published

by Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Khalaf Department for Environmental Research and Media, National Research Center, University of Palestine, Gaza, State of Palestine. https://cetacea-3.webs.com/ Khalaf-Prinz Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Sharif Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher Mohammad Ahmad Ahmad Mostafa Abdallah Mohammad (August 2021). First Record of the Killer Whale (Orcinus orca Linnaeus, 1758) off the Coasts of Akka (Acre) and Nahariya, Northern Occupied Palestine, and Beirut, Lebanon. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Volume 39, Number 200, August 2021, pp. 1-17.

Published by Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Khalaf Department for Environmental Research and Media, National Research Center, University of Palestine, Gaza, State of Palestine. (With English and Arabic Abstract). https://cetacea-3.webs.com/killer-whale-palestine Khalaf-Prinz Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Sharif Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 202 – October 2021

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Mohammad Ahmad Ahmad Mostafa Abdallah Mohammad (September 2021). A Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus Montagu, 1821) stranding on Khan Yunis Shore, Southern Gaza Strip, State of Palestine. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Volume 39, Number 201, September 2021, pp. 1-21.

Published by Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Khalaf Department for Environmental Research and Media, National Research Center, University of Palestine, Gaza, State of Palestine. (With English and Arabic Abstract). https://cetacea-3.webs.com/dolphin-khan-yunis & https://issuu.com/dr-norman-ali-khalaf/docs/dolphin_khan_yunis_gaza Khalaf-Prinz Sakerfalke von Jaffa, Sharif Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher Mohammad Ahmad Ahmad Mostafa Abdallah Mohammad (October 2021). First Record of the Northern Indian Ocean Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus indica Blyth, 1859) in Palestinian Waters, Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. Gazelle: The Palestinian Biological Bulletin. ISSN 0178 – 6288. Volume 39, Number 202, October 2021, pp. 1-27. Published

by Prof. Dr. Norman Ali Khalaf Department for Environmental Research and Media, National Research Center, University of Palestine, Gaza, State of Palestine. (With English and Arabic Abstract). https://cetacea-3.webs.com/blue-whale-palestine & https://issuu.com/dr-norman-ali-khalaf/docs/blue_whale_palestine Kirby, Alex (19 June 2003). Science seeks clues to pygmy whale. BBC News Online.Klinowska, M. (1991). Dolphins, Porpoises and Whales of the World: The IUCN Red Data Book. Cambridge, U.K.: IUCN. Klinowska, M. (1991). Dolphins, Porpoises and Whales of the World: The IUCN Red Data Book. Gland, Switzerland, U.K.: IUCN, ISBN 2880329361.

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‫والحمد هلل رب العالمين‬ Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 202 – October 2021